Applied Research in Urban Governance and Experimentation for a Transition to Low-carbon and Resource-efficient Economies
Tillämpad forskning om kommunal styrning och experiment för en övergång till en fossilfri och resurssnål ekonomi

IMEN61, 7.5 credits, A (Second Cycle)

Valid for: 2024/25
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering LTH
Decided by: PLED W
Date of Decision: 2024-04-02
Effective: 2024-05-08

General Information

Main field: Environmental Management and Policy Depth of study relative to the degree requirements: Second cycle, has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Elective mandatory for: XA_EMP2, XA_MESPOM2
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English

Aim

The course is designed to strengthen students’ skills in relation to academic writing as well as hone their ability to identify research worthy problems and define questions for applied and interdisciplinary research. At the same time, the course allows students to discuss current research in the broad field of urban governance and experimentation for a transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient economies, giving students an opportunity to learn more about a specific issue or phenomenon related to this field through an individual research assignment.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• •Demonstrate the ability to discuss and synthesise extant knowledge relating to a self-selected phenomenon/problem within the broader field of urban governance and experimentation for a transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient economies;
• •Demonstrate the ability to recognize, explain and use principles for good practice for the formal elements (relating to structure, style and citation requirements) of a scientific paper;
• •Demonstrate the ability to problematise an individual research query and be able to describe and apply this process as a means to generate novel research questions;
• •Be able to describe and apply key principles for a systematic review of relevant literature;

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• •Demonstrate the ability to write an individual research paper applying principles of good academic writing;
• •Demonstrate the ability to identify salient grey and research literature of relevance to a particular “real life” problem or phenomenon;
• •Demonstrate the ability to construct/delineate a research problem and define relevant and viable research questions based on an initial review of grey literature (and/or initial interviews with practitioners/experts) and relevant academic literature;
• •Demonstrate the ability for peer and self-evaluation of academic writing;
• •Demonstrate an ability to plan and execute course assignments within given time limits, using relevant methods for completing these assignments.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• •Be able to discuss and reflect upon the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used;
• •Demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Contents

The course has a dual focus on both skill development for academic writing and deeper learning related to the theme of the course: international and national policy intervention for a transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient economies.

The latter is catered for by initial mandatory seminars, preceded by readings, where key academic publications of relevance to the field are discussed, followed by the students’ own research into a particular aspect/subset of this broader field.

The focus on skill development for academic writing is supported by a number of learning activitites including lectures, mandatory seminars and voluntary sessions on different aspects of academic writing. These learning activities will also teach students to critically read and evaluate research papers. Students will give and receive formative feedback during the research process as well as summative feedback on the final paper.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
Assessment: The final grade is based on the quality of the individual research paper (80%), the oral presentation of the research paper (10%) and submitted peer and self-evaluations (10%). All graded course elements are mandatory to pass the course. Attendance of seminars is mandatory. Absence from compulsory activities will be compensated by an assignment according to the instruction of the teacher in charge. While attendance to lectures is not mandatory, attending lectures is central to the achievement of learning outcomes. It is important to note that all elements covered in the classes will not necessarily be mirrored in the course readings and that the examination may reflect all course elements, also those only covered in class.

The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.

Modules
Code: 1801. Name: Applied Research in Urban Governance and Experimentation.
Credits: 7.5. Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5).

Admission

Admission requirements:

• Students should have been admitted either to the MSc Programme in Environmental Management and Policy and have completed a minimum of 38 credits of programme courses, or to the Masters in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management and have completed a minimum of 60 credits of programme courses.

Reading list

• According to a literature list that will be available at the latest eight weeks before start of the course on the course web page.

Contact

Course coordinator: Yuliya Voytenko Palgan, yuliya.voytenko_palgan@iiiee.lu.se
Course homepage: https://www.iiiee.lu.se/education/masters-programme-environmental-management-and-policy-emp/syllabi